T-Mobile Now First With Samsung Galaxy

Bellevue, Wash. - T-Mobile
accelerated the launch of its first Samsung Galaxy-class smartphone to today (July
15) to become the first U.S. carrier to offer Samsung's flagship Android phone.

T-Mobile's version of the Galaxy phone, the
Samsung Vibrant, was originally scheduled for launch on July 21, but then
AT&T announced plans to launch its version, the Samsung Captivate, starting
Sunday, July 18. Both retail for $199.

T-Mobile denied that it accelerated its launch date to claim bragging
rights to being first. "T-Mobile is excited to make the Vibrant available to
its customers and wanted to get the phone in their hands as early as possible,
which is the reason for the earlier launch date," a spokesperson said.

The phone is available at T-Mobile retail stores,
select authorized dealers and partner locations and

The phones will also access
Samsung's Social Hub, which aggregates social network, email, contacts and
calendars.

Each carrier's version differs
slightly.

T-Mobile's touchscreen-only version will come
with included 2GB memory card loaded with James Cameron's "Avatar" movie,
preloaded Amazon Kindle for Android app, MobiTV service to stream live and
on-demand TV content over 3G, and Slacker Radio.

Sprint's version will feature a slide-from-the-side
QWERTY keyboard, 4G data and two cameras. One camera will be front-facing for
video chatting over data. Verizon and Sprint said their touchscreen models
would be equipped with an embedded Wi-Fi hotspot, but AT&T's touchscreen version
will not offer the embedded hot spot.

In addition, AT&T, Sprint and
T-Mobile said their models would access the Samsung Media Hub, which will be
available "in the coming months" to download movies and TV shows from Paramount
for rent or purchase. The other carriers haven't mentioned Media Hub
availability.